Edge connector for a printed circuit board

Abstract

A push-pull edge card electrical connector is adapted for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge. The connector includes an elongated dielectric housing having an elongated slot for receiving the edge of the printed circuit board. A plurality of first and second alternating terminal-receiving cavities are spaced along at least one side of the slot and separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing. The cavities are disposed between longitudinal side walls of the housing and a reinforcing rib extends across and joins the transverse walls of at least some of the cavities generally adjacent the slot. A first press-fit recess is located generally adjacent but spaced from one of the longitudinal sidewalls of the first cavities and a second press-fit recess is located generally adjacent but spaced from the reinforcing rib within the second cavities. A plurality of first and second terminals are provided with each first terminal received in one of the first terminal-receiving cavities and each second terminal is received in one of the second terminal-receiving cavities. Each of the terminals includes a base portion having a retention section press-fit within the press-fit recess of its respective cavity.

We claim: 
     
       1. A push-pull edge card electrical connector for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having conductive contact pads on at least one side of the board adjacent the edge, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing including   a board-receiving face and a terminal-receiving face,   an elongated slot disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving said edge of the printed circuit board,   a plurality of first and second alternating terminal-receiving cavities spaced along at least said one side of the slot and separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, said cavities being disposed between longitudinal sidewalls of the housing,   a reinforcing rib extending across and joining the transverse walls of at least some of the cavities generally adjacent said slot, said reinforcing rib being spaced from each of said sidewalls such that a first access opening extends across each of said first terminal-receiving cavities between said reinforcing rib and said sidewall and a second access opening extends across each of said second terminal-receiving cavities between said reinforcing rib and said sidewall, and   a first press-fit recess in each of the first cavities and a second press-fit recess in each of the second cavities, each first press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from one of said longitudinal sidewalls and each second press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from said reinforcing rib; and   a plurality of first and second terminals, each first terminal being received in one of said first terminal-receiving cavities through said first access opening and each second terminal being received in one of said second terminal-receiving cavities through said second access opening;   each of said first terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the first press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads; and   each of said second terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the second press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads.   
     
     
       2. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 1 wherein the spring arm of the second terminal includes a first generally horizontal section extending generally perpendicularly from said base portion, a second generally vertical section extending generally perpendicularly from said first section and offset from the plane of said base portion, a third elongated section extending upward from said second section at an acute angle thereto, a fourth curved contact section extending from said third section and within said slot, a fifth section extending from said fourth contact section and at an obtuse angle relative to said third section, and a distal end including a preload arm positioned against a preload rib of said housing and above said contact section. 
     
     
       3. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said distal end of the spring arm of each said second terminal is generally S-shaped. 
     
     
       4. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said third section of said second terminals is tapered. 
     
     
       5. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said third section of said second terminals extends into the slot and through the plane of said base portion. 
     
     
       6. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 2 wherein said distal end of said second terminals includes a sixth curved transition section extending from said fifth section to said preload arm. 
     
     
       7. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said terminals are of a simple cantilevered beam type. 
     
     
       8. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 1 wherein said reinforcing rib is located generally between a bottom surface of said slot and said terminal-receiving face. 
     
     
       9. An edge card electrical connector for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having contact pads on opposite sides of the board adjacent the edge and having a predetermined thickness, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing including   a board-receiving face,   an elongated slot disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving said edge of the printed circuit board, and   a plurality of pairs of transversely spaced apart first and second terminal-receiving cavities for receiving respective ones of a pair of first and second terminals engageable with the contact pads on opposite sides of the printed circuit board and defining first and second rows of alternating first and second cavities lengthwise of the housing, the first cavity of each pair being located on an opposite side of the slot from said second cavity, the first and second cavities within each row being separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, said cavities being disposed between longitudinal sidewalls of the housing,   a reinforcing rib extending across and joining the transverse walls between the transversely spaced apart terminal-receiving cavities of each pair thereof, the reinforcing ribs being aligned lengthwise relative to the housing,   a preload rib extending across each of said first and second cavities between a pair of said transverse walls generally adjacent said board receiving face and adjacent said slot, and   a first press-fit recess in each of the first cavities and a second press-fit recess in each of the second cavities, each first press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from one of said longitudinal sidewalls and each second press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from said reinforcing rib; and   a plurality of first and second terminals, one of said first terminals being received in each of said first terminal-receiving cavities, and one of said second terminals being received in each of said second terminal-receiving cavities, each of said first terminals facing one of said second terminals,   each of said first terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the first press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads and having a distal end engaging and preloaded against one of said preload ribs; and   each of said second terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the second press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads and having a distal end engaging and preloaded against one of said preload ribs.   
     
     
       10. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 9 wherein the spring arm of the second terminal includes a first generally horizontal section extending generally perpendicularly from said base portion, a second generally vertical section extending generally perpendicularly from said first section and offset from the plane of said base portion, a third elongated section extending upward from said second section at an acute angle thereto, a fourth curved contact section extending from said third section and within said slot, a fifth section extending from said fourth contact section and at an obtuse angle relative to said third section, and a distal end including a preload arm positioned against a preload rib of said housing and above said contact section. 
     
     
       11. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said distal end of the spring arm of each said second terminal is generally S-shaped. 
     
     
       12. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said third section of said second terminals is tapered. 
     
     
       13. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said third section of said second terminals extends into the slot and through the plane of said base portion. 
     
     
       14. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 10 wherein said distal end of said second terminals includes a sixth curved transition section extending from said fifth section to said preload arm. 
     
     
       15. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said terminals are of a simple cantilevered beam type. 
     
     
       16. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 9 wherein said reinforcing rib is located between a bottom surface of said slot and a terminal-receiving face of said housing. 
     
     
       17. The push-pull edge card electrical connector of claim 9 wherein each of said contact portions of said terminals is movable between a first position prior to insertion of said printed circuit board and a second, deflected position in which said printed circuit board is fully inserted into said slot, at least a portion of the contact portions of said first and second terminals being positioned within the slot when positioned at said first position, whereby upon inserting a printed circuit board into said slot, said contact pads of said printed circuit board slidingly engage said contact portions of said terminals. 
     
     
       18. A push-pull edge card electrical connector for receiving an edge of a printed circuit board having conductive contact pads on at least one side of the board adjacent the edge, comprising: an elongated dielectric housing including   a board-receiving face and a terminal-receiving face,   an elongated slot disposed in the board-receiving face generally along a longitudinal axis of the housing for receiving said edge of the printed circuit board,   a plurality of first and second alternating terminal-receiving cavities spaced along at least said one side of the slot and separated by transverse walls extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the housing, said cavities being disposed between longitudinal sidewalls of the housing,   a reinforcing rib extending across and joining the transverse walls of at least some of the cavities generally adjacent said slot, said reinforcing rib being spaced from each of said sidewalls such that a first access opening extends across each of said first terminal-receiving cavities between said reinforcing rib and said sidewall and a second access opening extends across each of said second terminal-receiving cavities between said reinforcing rib and said sidewall,   a first press-fit recess in each of the first cavities and a second press-fit recess in each of the second cavities, each first press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from one of said longitudinal sidewalls and each second press-fit recess being located generally adjacent but spaced from said reinforcing rib;   an recess extension extending partially between said adjacent transverse walls from said first press-fit recess into said sidewall adjacent said first press-fit recess; and   a plurality of first and second terminals, each first terminal being received in one of said first terminal-receiving cavities through said first access opening and each second terminal being received in one of said second terminal-receiving cavities through said second access opening;   each of said first terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the first press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads; and   each of said second terminals including a generally planar base portion having a retention section press-fit within the second press-fit recess of its respective cavity, a tail portion projecting from one end of the base portion and a resilient spring arm extending from an opposite end of the base portion, the resilient spring arm having a contact section for contacting one of said contact pads.